U.S. patent number 9,134,834 [Application Number 13/873,338] was granted by the patent office on 2015-09-15 for wristband having a user interface and method of using thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Made In Sense Limited. The grantee listed for this patent is Made In Sense Limited. Invention is credited to Gilad Reshef.
United States Patent |
9,134,834 |
Reshef |
September 15, 2015 |
Wristband having a user interface and method of using thereof
Abstract
A user input system that includes a wristband sized for at least
partly encircling a wearer's wrist and having an outer surface, a
touch surface operative to detect at least one movement vector of
at least one fingertip which slide contiguously against the outer
surface, a touch controller for analyzing the at least one movement
vector to identify a computing device operation command, and a
wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting the
computing device operation command to the computing device.
Inventors: |
Reshef; Gilad (Ma On Shan,
HK) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Made In Sense Limited |
Hong Kong |
N/A |
HK |
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Assignee: |
Made In Sense Limited (Hong
Kong, HK)
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Family
ID: |
49512163 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/873,338 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20130293494 A1 |
Nov 7, 2013 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61641985 |
May 3, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/163 (20130101); G06F 3/04842 (20130101); G06F
3/04883 (20130101); G06F 3/0416 (20130101); G06F
3/03547 (20130101); G06F 3/041 (20130101); G06F
3/016 (20130101); G09G 3/2092 (20130101); G06F
2203/04103 (20130101); G06F 2203/0339 (20130101); G09G
2370/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
1/16 (20060101); G06F 3/041 (20060101); G06F
3/01 (20060101); G06F 3/0354 (20130101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/173
;368/13,282,255 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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618827 |
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Aug 1980 |
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CH |
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WO 2011/089539 |
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Jul 2011 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report for corresponding International
Application No. PCT/CN2013/074841, 4 pgs, mailed Aug. 1, 2013.
cited by applicant .
International Search Report Dated Aug. 1, 2013 From The State
Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China Re.
Application No. PCT/CN2013/074841. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Kevin M
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A user input system, comprising: a wristband structure sized for
at least partly encircling a central wrist axis of a wearer's wrist
and having an outer surface; a curved touch surface operative to
detect at least one finger swipe of a fingertip which slides
contiguously against said outer surface; a touch controller adapted
to analyze said at least one finger swipe to identify a data query;
and a wireless communication unit adapted to wirelessly transmit
said data query to a computing device which is external to said
user input system and to receive a response to said data query from
said computing device, wherein said at least one finger swipe is
held around said central wrist axis and along a curve of a curved
portion of said curved touch surface; wherein said system further
comprising a plurality of different vibrating elements located to
provide a plurality of different haptic feedbacks on said wearer's
wrist and a controller which is adapted to select one of said
plurality of different vibrating elements according to said
response and operate at least two of said plurality of vibrating
elements which is located in said curved portion to provide at
least one of said plurality of different haptic feedbacks in
response to said reception of said response; wherein said
controller is adapted to operate said at least two of said
plurality of vibrating elements to vibrate simultaneously with
different intensities or different frequencies.
2. The user input system of claim 1, further comprising a wristband
communication module which is set to be installed in said computing
device and to translate said computing device operation command to
an application operation applied on an active application executed
on said computing device.
3. The user input system of claim 2, wherein said wristband
communication module is adapted to automatically identify said
active application among a plurality of optional applications and
to select said application operation accordingly.
4. The user input system of claim 2, wherein said wristband
communication module is adapted to automatically identify a status
of said active application and to select said application operation
accordingly.
5. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said at least one
finger swipe comprises a plurality of simultaneous finger swipes
which are generated by a plurality of fingertips which slide
simultaneously and contiguously against one another along said
outer surface.
6. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said curved touch
surface completely encircles said outer surface.
7. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said wristband is
sized for encircling at least 40% of the perimeter of said wearer's
wrist.
8. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said curved touch
surface comprises a plurality of touch sensors positioned below
said outer surface.
9. The user input system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality
of vibrating elements is positioned in a different quarter of said
wristband.
10. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of
vibrating elements are sequentially operable according to various
vibrating sequences.
11. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said wireless
communication unit is adapted to wirelessly receive an operation
command from said computing device; said system further comprising
a presentation unit and a controller which is adapted to operate
said presentation unit according to said operation command.
12. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said wristband
structure is without any visual indication required to be viewed
for operating said wristband structure.
13. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said curved touch
surface includes a plurality of sensing surfaces arranged along the
length of the wristband structure, and wherein said wristband
structure encircles at least 50% of the outer surface.
14. The user input system of claim 13, wherein said wristband
structure encircles 100% of the outer surface.
15. The user input system of claim 1, wherein said at least one
finger swipe comprises a plurality of simultaneous finger swipes
which are moved toward each other or away from each other while
touching said curved touch surface.
16. A user input method, comprising: detecting at least one finger
swipe of at least one fingertip which slide contiguously along a
curve of at least one curved portion of a curved touch surface
mounted along a curved surface of a wristband structure sized for
at least partly encircling a central wrist axis of a wearer's
wrist; wireless transmitting a data query identified by an analysis
of said at least one finger swipe to a computing device which is
external to said user input system; receiving a response to said
data query from said computing device, in response to said
reception of said response, selecting to provide one of a plurality
of different haptic feedbacks on said wearer's wrist using at least
two of a plurality of vibrating elements which are located in a
plurality of curved portions of said wristband device which is
sized for at least partly encircling said wearer's wrist; and
operating said at least two vibrating elements to vibrate
simultaneously with different intensities or different frequencies
for providing said selected haptic feedback on said wearer's wrist
in response to said detection of said at least one finger swipe so
that said at least two vibrating element vibrates said at least one
curved portion; wherein said at least one finger swipe is held
around said central wrist axis.
17. The user input method of claim 16, wherein said method involves
no viewing of said wristband structure.
18. A user input system, comprising: a wristband structure sized
for at least partly encircling a central wrist axis of a wearer's
wrist and having a plurality of portions; a plurality of vibrating
elements each positioned to vibrate another said portion, said
plurality of vibrating elements are set to provide a plurality of
different haptic feedbacks on said wearer's wrist; a curved touch
surface operative to detect at least one finger swipe held around
said central wrist axis, said at least one finger swipe is
performed by a fingertip which slides contiguously against an outer
surface of said curved touch surface; a wireless communication unit
adapted to wirelessly transmit a data query to a computing device
which is external to said user input system and adapted to
wirelessly receive a response to said data query to from said
computing device; and a controller adapted to operate at least two
of said plurality of vibrating elements to provide one of said
plurality of different haptic feedbacks on said wearer's wrist in
response to the reception of said response; wherein said controller
is adapted to operate said at least two of said plurality of
vibrating elements to vibrate simultaneously with different
intensities or different frequencies.
19. A method of pulling data from a communication device,
comprising: recording, using a curved touch surface of a wristband
device, at least one finger swipe of a fingertip which touches at
least one curved portion of an outer surface of said curved touch
surface of said wristband device sized for at least partly
encircling a central wrist axis of a wearer's wrist, said at least
one finger swipe is indicative of a data query; analyzing said at
least one finger swipe on said wristband device to identify said
data query; wirelessly transmitting said data query to a
communication device; receiving at said wristband device, a
response to said data query from said communication device,
selecting one of a plurality of possible different haptic feedbacks
on said wearer's wrist according to said response, each one of said
plurality of possible different haptic feedbacks comprises
instructions to operate at least some of a plurality of vibrating
elements installed in said wristband device, operating at said
wristband at least two of said plurality of vibrating elements to
vibrate simultaneously with different intensities or different
frequencies for providing said selected haptic feedback that
comprises a predefined vibrating sequence induced by said at least
two vibrating element.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving from a
user instructions defining said data query and associating said at
least one finger swipe with said data query.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein said data query is encoded in a
message selected from a group consisting of: a missing call
message, a voice mail message, a short message service (SMS), a
multimedia messaging service (MMS), an instant messaging (IM)
message, and an application notification.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein said method involves no viewing
of said wristband structure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to user
interfaces and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a
wristband having a user interface and a method of using
thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cellular phones, such as Smartphones, and tablets have become a
ubiquitous activity in today's society. Many users require constant
access to their Smartphones to maintain their professional or
personal lives. For some users, this means that they are tethered
to use the input interfaces and alerting of these devices all day
long. This requires focusing on the keypad or touchpad of the
device.
Various devices have been developed to assist users in their
communication with such devices, some of them designed as
wristbands. For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,620 describes a
one-handed thumb-supported mobile input device for a computing
device including an input mechanism and a thumb loop or an elastic
band in which a thumb of a hand may be inserted. The thumb loop or
elastic band is attached to an adjustable thumb loop holder that is
enclosed within a thumb loop holder and is adjustable with respect
to the thin sections of the input mechanism. The thumb loop holder
is attached to one of the sections of the input mechanism. The
input mechanism has a folded position and an unfolded position, and
includes a number of thin sections containing a number of keys, and
which may have one or more folds. The device may further include a
display mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded
position, and including a thin section containing a display and
that is foldable with respect to the sections of the input
mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to some embodiments of the present invention there is
provided a user input system comprising a wristband structure sized
for at least partly encircling a wearer's wrist and having an outer
surface, a touch surface operative to detect at least one movement
vector of at least one fingertip which slide contiguously against
the outer surface, a touch controller adapted to analyze the at
least one movement vector to identify a computing device operation
command, and a wireless communication unit adapted to wirelessly
transmit the computing device operation command to the computing
device.
Optionally, the user input system comprises a wristband
communication module which is set to be installed in the computing
device and to translate the computing device operation command to
an application operation applied on an active application executed
on the computing device.
Optionally, the wristband communication module is adapted to
automatically identify the active application among a plurality of
optional applications and to select the application operation
accordingly.
Optionally, the wristband communication module is adapted to
automatically identify a status of the active application and to
select the application operation accordingly.
Optionally, the at least one movement vector includes a plurality
of movement vectors and the plurality of movement vectors are
generated by at least one fingertip touching said outer
surface.
Optionally, the at least one movement vector includes a plurality
of movement vectors and the plurality of movement vectors are
generated by a plurality of fingertips which slide simultaneously
and contiguously against said outer surface.
Optionally, the touch surface encircles at least 10% of the outer
surface.
Optionally, the touch surface completely encircles the outer
surface.
Optionally, the wristband is sized for encircling at least 40% of
the perimeter of the wearer's wrist.
Optionally, the touch surface comprises a plurality of touch
sensors positioned below the outer surface.
Optionally, the wireless communication unit is adapted to
wirelessly receive a wristband operation command from the computing
device. The system further comprises a plurality of vibrating
elements and a controller which is adapted to operate the plurality
of vibrating elements according to the wristband operation
command.
More optionally, the controller is adapted to simultaneously
operate at least some of the plurality of vibrating elements so
that each of said at least some vibrating elements vibrates in at
least one of a different pattern, a different velocity, a different
frequency, and a different intensity.
More optionally, the wristband operating command is indicative of
at least one of the execution and lack of execution of the device
operating command.
Optionally, each of the plurality of vibrating elements is
positioned in a different quarter of the wristband.
More optionally, the plurality of vibrating elements are
sequentially operable according to various vibrating sequences.
Optionally, the wireless communication unit is adapted to
wirelessly receive an operation command from the computing device.
The system further comprises a presentation unit and a controller
which is adapted to operate the presentation unit according to the
operation command.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is
provided a method of transmitting commands to a computing device,
the method comprising recording, using a touch surface, at least
one movement vector of at least one fingertip which touches an
outer surface of a wristband sized for at least partly encircling a
wearer's wrist, analyzing the at least one movement vector to
identify a computing device operation command, and wirelessly
transmitting the computing device operation command to the
computing device for processing and execution.
Optionally, the method further comprises operating a plurality of
vibrating elements according to the at least one movement vector so
that each the vibrating element is operated when the fingertip is
in proximity thereto.
Optionally, the computing device operation command is indicative of
a set of operations for the computing device to perform.
Optionally, the at least one movement vector includes a plurality
of movement vectors and the at least one fingertip includes a
plurality of fingertips which simultaneously touch the outer
surface.
More optionally, the plurality of fingertips slide simultaneously
and contiguously against the outer surface.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is
provided a user input method comprising wirelessly receiving at
least one operation command from a computing device, converting the
at least one operation command to at least one instruction, and
operating a plurality of vibrating elements located in a plurality
of portions of a wristband device sized for at least partly
encircling a wearer's wrist so that each of the vibrating elements
vibrates a respective portion in at least one of a different
pattern, a different velocity, a different timing and a different
intensity.
Optionally, the plurality of vibrating elements vibrates
simultaneously.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is
provided a user input system comprising a wristband structure sized
for at least partly encircling a wearer's wrist and having a
plurality of portions, a plurality of vibrating elements, each
positioned to vibrate another portion, a wireless communication
unit adapted to wirelessly receive an operation command from a
computing device, and a controller adapted to convert the operation
command to at least one instruction which is forwarded to operate
the plurality of vibrating elements so that each vibrating element
vibrates in at least one of a different pattern, a different
velocity, and intensity.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is
provided a method of pulling data from a communication device. The
method comprises recording, using a touch surface, at least one
gesture of at least one fingertip which touches an outer surface of
a wristband device sized for at least partly encircling a wearer's
wrist, the at least one gesture is indicative of a data query,
analyzing the at least one gesture on the wristband device to
identify the data query, wirelessly transmitting the data query to
a communication device which manages a record indicative of
acceptance or non acceptance of a message from a human peer,
receiving a response to the data query, the response being set
according to the record.
Optionally, the method further comprises operating at least one
vibrating element installed in the wristband device according to
the response.
Optionally, the at least one vibrating element comprises a
plurality of vibrating elements and the operating comprises
selecting which of the plurality of vibrating elements to vibrate
according to the location of the at least one fingertip.
Optionally, the method further comprises receiving from a user
instructions defining the data query and associating the at least
one gesture with the data query.
Optionally, the message is selected from a group consisting of: a
missing call message, a voice mail message, a short message service
(SMS), a multimedia messaging service (MMS), an instant messaging
(IM) message, and an application notification.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although
methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described
herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the
invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below.
In case of conflict, the patent specification, including
definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and
examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be
necessarily limiting.
Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of the
invention can involve performing or completing selected tasks
manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover,
according to actual instrumentation and equipment of embodiments of
the method and/or system of the invention, several selected tasks
could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware or by
a combination thereof using an operating system.
For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according to
embodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a
circuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of
the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software
instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable
operating system. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one
or more tasks according to exemplary embodiments of the method
and/or system as described herein are performed by a data
processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality
of instructions. Optionally, the data processor includes a volatile
memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or a non-volatile
storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removable media,
for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a network
connection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input
device such as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as
well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With
specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed
that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes
of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this
regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to
those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be
practiced.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a wristband device which
operates a computing device according to inputs from its touch
surface, according to some embodiments of the present
application;
FIGS. 2A-2D are top view schematic illustrations of a wristband
with an icon indicating two directions of two fingertips which
slide simultaneously on its outer surface to indicate one of
various computing device operation command(s), according to some
embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 2E is a top view schematic illustration of a wristband with an
icon indicating a fingertip touch on its outer surface to indicate
one of various computing device operation command(s), according to
some embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 3, which is a schematic illustration of a wristband which
operates a computing device and is similar to the wristband
depicted in FIG. 1 and further depicts a set of vibrating elements,
according to some embodiments of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A-4E are lateral schematic illustrations of a wristband with
curved lines indicating a direction of vibrating element operation,
according to some embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a wristband, similar to the
wristbands depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, and having a bi directional
communication with the computing device, according to some
embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting commands to a
computing unit, according to some embodiments of the present
invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of operating vibration elements
in a wristband, according to some embodiments of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary scenario employing a method
of interfacing with a computing device using a wristband, according
to some embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary scenario employing a method
of pulling monitored information from a computing device, according
to some embodiments of the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a process of activating a music player hosted on the
computer device and currently in an idle mode, according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to user
interfaces and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a
wristband having a user interface and a method of using
thereof.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are
provided methods and systems wherein a wristband sized for at least
partly encircling a wearer's wrist has a touch surface operative to
detect touch and/or slide events, for example a movement vector of
one or more fingertips which slide contiguously against the outer
surface of the wristband. The detected touch and/or slide events
are used to operate a computing device, such as a Smartphone,
optionally contextually based on an application which is currently
active at the computing device.
The wristband optionally includes a touch controller which analyzes
the touch and/or slide events to identify computing device
operation commands and a wireless communication unit which
wirelessly transmits the computing device operation command to the
computing device, for example according to Bluetooth.TM.
protocol.
Optionally, the computing device hosts a software module which
translates the received commands to operate application(s) in
and/or function(s) of the computing device.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are
provided methods and systems of operating a plurality of vibrating
elements in a wristband having a plurality of vibrating elements in
a plurality of wristband portions according to operation commands
wirelessly received from a computing device. The vibrating elements
may be operated so that each vibrating element vibrates in a
different pattern, a different velocity, a different timing and/or
a different intensity.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not
necessarily limited in its application to the details of
construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods
set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the
drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other
embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various
ways.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration
of a wristband 100 which operates a computing device 150 according
to inputs from a touch surface 104 operative to detect one or more
touch events and/or movement vectors of one or more fingertips
which touch and/or slide contiguously against the touch surface 104
of the wristband 100, according to some embodiments of the present
application. The computing device 150 may be a laptop, a cellular
phone, such as a Smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, and/or
the like. The fingertips may touch the touch surface 104 and/or
slide in contact with and/or in a proximity to the touch surface
104. The wristband 100 may be any band sized for at least partly
encircling a wearer's wrist and having an outer surface. As used
herein, at least partly encircling means encircling at least 10% of
a certain perimeter, for example 40%-80% of a certain perimeter,
90% of a certain perimeter and/or any intermediate or larger
portion of the perimeter.
The computing device 150 optionally hosts a wristband communication
module 151, for example an add-on, an application, such as a
Smartphone app and/or the like. The wristband communication module
151 is designed to receive and send wirelessly operation command(s)
from/to the wristband 100, for example as described below, and to
translate them to a respective operation on the computing device
150, for example a currently active application, such as a phone
application that has a user interface displayed on the screen of
the computing device or a phone application that runs in the
background of the computing device, a player, a game, a browser
and/or the like. As further described below, wristband
communication module 151 may manage user interface to allow
configuring the communication between the computing device 150 and
the wristband 100.
The wristband 100 includes a wristband structure 120 such as a
plastic injected fixed and/or semi flexible band having the above
components embedded there and/or placed in designated niches. The
wristband structure 120 supports the touch surface 104. The
wristband structure 120 optionally includes a clasping unit 105 for
wearing and removal. The wristband structure 120 is optionally
flexible to allow a wearer to manually extend the perimeter of the
wristband 100 before the wearing thereof. Optionally, the wristband
structure 120 may have an unclosed shaped, namely a crescent
shaped.
Optionally, the touch surface 104 at least partly encircles the
wristband structure 120, for example covers at least 10% of its
outer surface. The touch surface 104 optionally includes one or
more sensing surfaces, optionally flexible, based on "capacitive
coupling" and/or resistive sensors. Optionally, an array of touch
sensors, each such as 104a, are seamlessly integrated into the
wristband structure 120 and/or positioned behind a cover.
Optionally, the touch surface 104 is designed to identify one or
more touch events, for example single-finger and/or multi-finger
hold and/or touch operations. Optionally, the touch surface 104 is
designed to identify a number of fingertip slide events which occur
simultaneously, for example multi-finger swipe and/or pinch
operations.
The fingertip slide event may be a fingertip or a tip of a
fingertip simulating device which slides contiguously against the
touch surface 104. Additionally or alternatively, the touch surface
104 is designed to identify one or more fingertip touch events
which occur simultaneously and/or with a fingertip slide event.
The wristband 100 includes a touch controller module 102 which
analyzes the touch and/or slide events, optionally using a
processor, such as a controller 115 for example a microcontroller,
and generates and/or selects one or more computing device operation
commands accordingly. For example, the touch controller module 102
analyzes on or more movement vector(s) of the fingertip(s) sliding
contiguously against the touch surface 104. The computing device
operation commands are optionally selected by matching between the
signature of the touch and/or slide events and reference signatures
associated with computing device operation commands, for example
from a list or a table. The matching may be performed using a hash
table. The computing device operation commands are optionally, user
inputs such as moving cursor, selecting, browsing, answering a
call, declining a call, initiating a function of an application
executed on the computing device 150, terminating a function
executed on the computing device 150, and/or the like.
The wristband 100 further includes a wireless communication unit
107 which wirelessly connects to the computing device 150 and
transmits thereto the computing device operation command(s) and/or
receives commands and information therefrom. The wireless
communication unit 107 is optionally a wireless local area network
(WLAN) communication unit, for example a wireless fidelity
(Wi-Fi).TM. according to IEEE 802.11 protocol, and/or wireless
personal area network (WPAN), such as a Bluetooth.TM. communication
unit, a ZigBee.TM. communication unit and/or a Wibree.TM.
communication unit. The wristband 100 further includes a power
source 103, such as a rechargeable battery with a connection to a
socket, for example mini universal serial bus (USB) socket.
Optionally, the wristband 100 further includes a presentation unit,
such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or a light emitting
diode (LED), to indicate a status, a connection to the computing
device 150, a charging level of the power source 103 and/or the
like. Optionally, the LED is operated by a controller, such as 115,
for example based on an operation command received from the
computing device 150. Optionally an audio alert unit is embedded to
provide audible indications to received information and
feedback.
Optionally a motion sensor such as a 3-axis accelerometer is
embedded to provide input information, standalone or contextual
relative to other operations, for example, while the vibration
alert is activated, shaking the hand will stop the vibration.
In use, the wristband communication module 151 translates the
computing device operation command(s) according to the application
that the user currently interfaces with using the computing device
150, for example the application that is currently selected and/or
presented on its computing device 150. In such a manner, the wearer
of the wristband 100 can activate the computing device 150, for
example a Smartphone, by a simple fingertip gesture and without
even looking at it, for example during driving, cooking, running or
biking.
For example, FIGS. 2A-2D are top view schematic illustrations of
the wristband 100 with an icon indicating the directions of two
fingertips which slide simultaneously on its outer surface to
indicate one of various computing device operation command(s),
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 2A, two fingertips are moved against each other while
touching the touch surface 104. Computing device operation
command(s) generated according to a signature generated based on
these motion vectors may be translated to "next track" operation
when the active application is a player, "reject the call"
operation when the active application is a phone in a ringing
state, and "open new tab" when the active application is a web
browser.
In FIG. 2B, two fingertips are moved toward each other while
touching the touch surface 104. Computing device operation
command(s) generated according to a signature generated based on
these motion vectors may be translated to "stop" operation when the
active application is a player, "silent the ringtone" operation
when the active application is a phone in a ringing state or in an
idle state, and "Close" when the active application is a web
browser.
In FIG. 2C, two fingertips are moved to the right while touching
the touch surface 104. Computing device operation command(s)
generated according to a signature generated based on these motion
vectors may be translated to "increase volume" operation when the
active application is a player, "send default meeting SMS"
operation when the active application is a phone in an idle state,
and "Next" when the active application is a web browser.
In FIG. 2D, two fingertips are moved to the left while touching the
touch surface 104. Computing device operation command(s) generated
according to a signature generated based on these motion vectors
may be translated to "decrease volume" operation when the active
application is a player, "silent" operation or "open SMS editor"
operation respectively when the active application is a phone in an
idle state or ringing state, and "Next" when the active application
is a web browser.
Reference is also made to FIG. 2E, which is a top view schematic
illustration of the wristband 100 with an icon indicating the touch
of one fingertip on the touch surface 104 to indicate one of
various computing device operation command(s), according to some
embodiments of the present invention. In this figure, computing
device operation command(s) generated according to the touch event
may be translated to "pause/play" operation when the active
application is a player, "activate speaker" operation or "activate
phone voice recognition" operation respectively when the active
application is a phone in an ringing state or idle state, and
"Submit" when the active application is a web browser. Tapping with
two fingers simultaneously will be translated to "go to the
beginning of a track" operation when the active application is a
player, "answer call" operation when the active application is a
phone in a ringing state or in an idle state, and "activate screen
and show calendar" when the computing device is idle.
As further described below, an acknowledgment of any touch and/or
slide events, including the above examples, may be received from
the computing device and translated to a haptic response in the
form of a predefined vibrating pattern.
Optionally, operation command(s) generated according to touch
and/or slide events are combined with an input of a simultaneous
activity executed on the computing device, for example voice
recognition. In such a manner, another layer of information is
provided together with the simultaneous activity. For example, a
first operation command received with the voice recognition input
"Call Ruth" will be translated to a default call command and a
second operation command received with the same voice recognition
input may be translated to a call without providing call identifier
command.
It should be noted that the translation of different computing
device operation commands generated by different fingertip gestures
may be set manually by the wearer, for example using a designated
graphical user interface (GUI) that is presented on the computing
device 150, for example by the wristband communication module 151.
As exemplified above, call operations, such as mute, call and
reject call, media playing control, and/or various functions and
applications control may be performed using the wristband 100. The
wristband may also be used for computing device profile change, for
example from silent state to general state and/or from silent state
to work state and/or the like. This may allow avoiding
interruptions in situations such as sleeping, meetings, training
and and/or the like.
Reference is now also made to FIG. 3, which is a schematic
illustration of a wristband 300 that is similar to the wristband
100 depicted in FIG. 1. However, FIG. 3 does not depict the touch
surface 104 and the touch controller 102 and further depicts a set
of vibrating elements 111-114, such as piezoelectric transducers,
which are operated by the controller 115, according to some
embodiments of the present invention. The vibrating elements
111-114 provide a haptic feedback that provides information to the
wearer.
Each one of the vibrating elements 111-114 is positioned to vibrate
another portion of the wristband 300, for example another quarter
of a perimeter annular portion, third of a perimeter annular
portion, and/or a sixth of a perimeter annular portion. In these
embodiments, the wireless communication unit 107 is set to receive
wirelessly operation command(s) from the computing device 150. The
operation command(s) may be translated to various vibration
patterns which are implemented by the vibrating elements 111-114.
Optionally, the operation command(s) are selected, for example by
the wristband communication module 151, in a contextual manner, for
example based on the application which is currently active on the
computing device 150 and/or the state of the currently active
application.
The translation may be set automatically and/or manually, for
example by a designated GUI. For example, different vibration
patterns may indicate the receiving of a voice mail, a call, a
short message service (SMS), an instant message, and/or the like.
In such embodiments, the controller 115 converts the received
operation command(s) to vibrating element instructions which are
forwarded to operate the vibrating elements 111-114. Optionally, a
number of vibrating elements are set to vibrate simultaneously.
Additionally or alternatively, each vibrating element 111, 112,
113, 114 may be instructed to vibrate according to a different
pattern, at a different frequency, at a different velocity, and/or
at a different intensity. Additionally or alternatively, the
vibrating elements 111-114 may be instructed to vibrate
sequentially.
For example, reference is now made to FIGS. 4A-4E, which are
lateral schematic illustrations of a wristband with curved lines
indicating a direction of vibrating element operation, according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 4A, the vibrating elements in four vibration areas of the
depicted wristband are operated to vibrate sequentially in reduced
intensities or frequency. In such a embodiment, the wearer feels a
declined circular vibrating pattern starting from an area tagged as
"Vibration area 1", to an area tagged as "Vibration area 2", to an
area tagged as "Vibration area 3" and to an area tagged as
"Vibration area 4". In this case, the vibration power decreases
with time so that the vibration in "Vibration area 1" is the
strongest and decreasing at the next area so that the vibrating in
"Vibration area 4" is the weakest.
In FIG. 4B, the vibrating elements in two opposing vibration areas
of the depicted wristband are operated to vibrate alternately in a
high intensity or frequency. In such a manner, the wearer feels a
strong alternating vibration between "Vibration area 1" and
"Vibration area 3". Optionally, opposing vibrating elements may
work simultaneously and alternately with other vibrating elements
(for example Vibration areas 1 and 3 are operated alternately with
Vibration areas 2 and 4). Optionally, opposing vibrating elements
may be operated in different intensities and/or frequencies.
In FIG. 4C, vibrating elements in all the vibration areas of the
depicted wristband are operated simultaneously.
It should be noted that the wristband may be divided to any various
numbers of vibration areas by distributing and allocating vibrating
elements in a respective manner. For example, in FIGS. 4D and 4E,
the wristband is divided to three vibration areas that can be
activated simultaneously and sequentially in similar and/or
different intensities and/or frequencies.
Reference is also made to FIG. 5, which is a schematic illustration
of a wristband 500 which is similar to the wristbands 100 and 300
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. However, FIG. 5 units components from
FIGS. 1 and 3 namely includes both vibrating elements 111-114 and
the touch surface 104 and the touch analyzer 102, according to some
embodiments of the present invention. In such embodiments, the
wristband 500 has bidirectional communication with the computing
device 150 and therefore may be used to interact therewith in an
interactive manner, for receiving contextual notifications as a
sequence of vibrations and responding to the contextual
notifications by fingertip gestures.
Optionally, the bidirectional communication allows a user to pull
information which is usually push information from the computing
device 150. For example, the bidirectional communication may be
used to allow the user to slide and/or touch the touch surface 104
for querying whether any or a certain message (i.e. an email, and
short message service (SMS), an application notification, and/or an
instant messaging (IM) message has been received from any or a
certain contact or peer. In such an embodiment, the wristband
communication module 151 may manage a set of data for pulling rules
which define which information is pulled in response to an
operation command or any other message triggered by a touch and/or
a slide event. These rules are optionally stored in the memory of
the computing device 150. Optionally, a designated GUI which is
presented by the wristband communication module 151 on the display
of the computing device 150 may be used to allow a user to define
data for pulling rules, namely which information should be pulled
in response to which operation command, for example a sending
and/or a calling contact and/or a text including word(s) converted
from an audio message and/or a type of a message (e.g. missed call,
SMS, multimedia messaging service (MMS) and IM message). In use,
when an operating command is sent to the computing device 150 as an
outcome of a touch event or a slide event selected by the user, the
computing device 150 acquires the information to be pulled and
responds to the operation command. In such a manner, alerts and/or
alarms of the computing device 150 may be shutdown (e.g. rings,
vibrations, lighting and/or display indications) and replaced with
a predefined haptic feedback that is provided by the wristband
500.
Optionally, a number of different haptic feedbacks may be defined
to reflect different outcomes. For example, if the information to
be pulled is information about whether a message has been received,
one haptic feedback (i.e. a pattern of vibrations) is indicative of
receiving the message and another is indicative of not receiving
the message. Optionally, the haptic feedbacks encode information
extracted from received messages.
In one example, before a user starts an important meeting that
requires him to put the computing device 150, a phone, in a silence
mode the user uses the above mentioned GUI to select a special
vibrating pattern for notifying him when an SMS or IM or a missed
call is received from a selected person, for example his wife.
During the meeting, the user occasionally checks if he got a
message from the selected person by swiping his finger on the
wristband 500. If a received haptic feedback, such as a signal
vibration occurs, he knows he didn't get a message from the
selected person; and if two vibrations occur, he knows he got a
message from the selected person. Optionally, if the received
message includes a known symbol, a word, and/or a sign, for example
OK. Not OK, Urgent, ":>", and/or now, a selected vibrating
pattern which is associated with the known symbol, word, and/or
sign is instructed by the controller.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
vibrating elements 111-114 are operated to provide a haptic
feedback in an area of the touch surface 104 which detects the
touch event and/or the slide event. Optionally, the vibrating
elements 111-114 are operated to follow the location of the user's
fingertip. In such a manner, when a user slides his fingertip along
portion A of the wristband, respective vibrator A responds, and
when the user slides his fingertip toward portion B, the vibrating
element of portion A fades and the vibrating element from portion B
is activated.
Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a flowchart 600 of a
method of transmitting commands to a computing unit, for example
using the above described wristband, according to some embodiments
of the present invention. First, as shown at 601, a touch surface
located at an outer surface of a wristband sized for encircling a
wearer's wrist is used to record touch and/or slide event of one or
more fingertips. Then, as shown at 602, the touch and/or slide
events, for example movement vectors, are analyzed to identify one
or more computing device operation command(s). The computing device
operation command(s) are wirelessly transmitted to a computing
device, such as 150 which operates accordingly the computing
device, optionally in a contextual manner based on an application
that is currently active.
Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart 700 of a user
input method, which is optionally implemented using the
above-described wristband, according to some embodiments of the
present invention. First, as shown at 701, one or more operation
commands are wirelessly received from a computing device, such as
150, at a wristband device sized for encircling a wearer's wrist,
such as 300 and 500. Then, as shown at 702, the operation commands
are converted to one or more instructions. Now, as shown at 703, a
plurality of vibrating elements in the wristband are operated
according to the operation commands so that the vibrating elements
vibrate different portions of the wrist in a different pattern, a
different velocity, a different timing and/or a different
intensity, for example as described above.
Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a flowchart 800 of an
exemplary scenario of employing a method of interfacing with a
computing device using a wristband, according to some embodiments
of the present invention. The method allows a user to receive
notifications from a computing device and to respond to them by
simple operations such as sliding a fingertip on the touch surface
104 and/or touching the touch surface 104, for example when the
computing device is switched to a silent and/or idle mode, for
example as shown at 801. 802-803 depict actions of the computing
device 500. As depicted in the flowchart, the wristband
communication module 151 checks computing device events, such as
the reception of events and/or messages to identify events which
comply with the set of rules. These events or indications thereof
are forwarded to the wristband, 500, as shown at 814 and processed
by the controller 115, as shown at 815. As shown at 816 and in
807-809, the controller 115 instructs the vibrating elements
111-114 according to the received events or indications thereof. In
FIG. 8 different vibration patterns may be selected to match
different events or the lack of different events (e.g. SMS from
contact X was received, SMS from contact X was not received, SMS
from contact X with the word OK was received, SMS from contact X
with the word OK was not received and/or the like).
As depicted in 8010-8011, the user may use the touch surface 104 to
trigger a response by a touch and/or slide event. This action
optionally stops the vibration in any of 807-809. The touch
controller 102 analyzes the touch and/or slide event to generate an
operating command accordingly. As shown at 8012-8013, the operating
command is wirelessly transmitted to the computing device 150 which
performs an action accordingly, for example selects a predefined
text message and forwards it to an addressee, which is optionally
the sender of a message which triggered the vibration in any of
807-809.
Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a flowchart 900 of an
exemplary scenario of employing a method of pulling monitored
information from a computing device, according to some embodiments
of the present invention. The method allows a user to receive
notifications from a computing device and to respond to them by
simple operations such as sliding a fingertip on the touch surface
104 and/or touching the touch surface 104, for example when the
computing device is switched to a pull mode, for example as shown
at 901. In 902 a touch and/or a slide event is performed by the
user to trigger the transmission of a pulling query to the
computing device 500. As shown at 903, the touch controller 102
determines whether the touch and/or the slide pattern is indicative
of an operating command that is set to send a query. If so, as
shown at 904, the query is wirelessly sent to the computing device
150. A response to the query, for example an indication of a missed
call, an SMS, a voice mail and/or an indication of the content
thereof, is sent from the computing device 150 to the wristband 151
in response to the query. As shown at 906-908, different vibration
patterns may be induced based on the response. The wristband then
returns to an idle mode, as shown at 909, until another query is
detected.
As exemplified in this process, a user may get various non-visual
notifications and other types of information without necessarily
looking on the computing device screen or on the wristband 500 as
different messages, such as different incoming text messages, for
example emails, application notifications, twitter messages, and
Facebook notifications, may be presented by different haptic
feedbacks, for example different vibration patterns, different
vibration velocities, different vibration timings and/or a
different vibration intensities as described above. Moreover, this
unique infrastructure allows an instant message sender to set the
importance or the content of the message upon sending a message
with a certain symbol, character, word, and/or a sentence which are
translated to a predefined vibration pattern. Optionally, messages
are sent with importance indications and translated to different
vibration patterns each indicative of a different level of
importance. For example, for incoming message, a single vibration
means a low importance, two vibrations means a medium importance
and three vibrations means urgent. In other words, the receiver of
the text message is able to understand the importance of the
message without looking at the computing device.
As described above, the wristband depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5
allows a user to instruct operations of one or more applications
installed and executed on the computing device 150. Optionally, a
single touch and/or slide event performed by the user allows
triggering a set of a plurality of operations held on the computing
device 150. In such a manner, the user may trigger an activation a
certain function, optionally with certain values, of an inactive
application of the computing device 150. For example FIG. 10
depicts a process of activating a music player which is hosted on
the computer device 500 and currently in an idle mode, according to
some embodiments of the present invention. In another example, the
user may instruct a capturing of image by sending a command
operation that instructs the opening of a camera application and
the capturing of an image, optionally only when certain of object
appears in the image. In the process exemplified in numerals
1001-1005 of FIG. 10 a user who uses the computing device to listen
to music may select a song (not the next track) when the computing
device is locked and the screen is off, using a fingertip gesture
on the wristband that is used to unlock the computing device,
refresh the screen and instruct the player to present a menu with
tracks to select from. This enables a user to change the song by
one click on the screen of the computing device (i.e. a touch
screen Smartphone or a tablet) instead of performing a multiple
actions on the computing device.
Various other sequences of actions may be performed, for example
adding status or a location data to a social network system and/or
sending a message which is prepared in advance, and/or the
like.
It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this
application many relevant systems and methods will be developed and
the scope of the term a transducer, a unit, a module, a controller,
and a communication unit is intended to include all such new
technologies a priori.
As used herein the term "about" refers to .+-.10%.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including",
"having" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to".
These terms encompass the terms "consisting of" and "consisting
essentially of".
The phrase "consisting essentially of" means that the composition
or method may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only
if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter
the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or
method.
As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include
plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one compound" may
include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example,
instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as "exemplary"
is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous
over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of
features from other embodiments.
The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in some
embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". Any particular
embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of "optional"
features unless such features conflict.
Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention
may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that
the description in range format is merely for convenience and
brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on
the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range
should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the
possible sub-ranges as well as individual numerical values within
that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6
should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such
as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6,
from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range,
for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the
breadth of the range.
Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to
include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the
indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges between" a first
indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges
from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are
used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and
second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral
numerals therebetween.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which
are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments,
may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment.
Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for
brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also
be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as
suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention.
Certain features described in the context of various embodiments
are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments,
unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this
specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by
reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each
individual publication, patent or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein
by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any
reference in this application shall not be construed as an
admission that such reference is available as prior art to the
present invention. To the extent that section headings are used,
they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.
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